Kuniko Kato Announces REICH90 North American Tour, Bringing Steve Reich’s 90th Anniversary to New York, LA, & more.

Steve Reich will attend October 14 NYC performance at Merkin Hall, as Kato leads Japan’s next-generation percussionists across five major North American stages.

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, August 26, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Acclaimed Percussion Virtuoso KUNIKO KATO Announces “REICH90” North American Tour Celebrating Minimalist Icon Steve Reich’s 90th Birthday. Featuring an emerging Ensemble of Elite Japanese Musicians, the Tour Spans Five Major Cultural Centers Including New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Indianapolis, and Vancouver (Vancouver New Music Festival 2026) — with Steve Reich in Attendance at Merkin Hall / Kaufman Music Center (Oct14).

Internationally acclaimed percussionist Kuniko Kato proudly announces the REICH90 North American Tour, a historic musical celebration honoring the 90th birthday of legendary minimalist composer Steve Reich. Spanning October and November 2026, the tour features a handpicked ensemble of rising Japanese percussion stars, bringing Reich’s hypnotizing, masterwork compositions to life across the United States and Canada.
In a moment of immense cultural validation, Gramophone Magazine has interviewed Kuniko Kato for an upcoming featured article anchoring the landmark Steve Reich 90th Anniversary coverage.
Adding to the historic nature of the tour, Steve Reich will be in personal attendance at the tour’s marquee New York performance at Merkin Hall (Kaufman Music Center) on Wednesday, October 14.

REICH90 tour serves as a bridges-of-sound cultural exchange, combining Kato’s world-renowned artistic precision with the raw talent of Japan’s next generation of percussionists. To support the immense logistical undertaking of transporting this elite international ensemble, instruments, and production across North America, Kuniko Kato has launched an official crowd funding campaign via MotionGallery’s Project Page, inviting global music enthusiasts to become a part of this avant-garde milestone.

REICH90 North American Tour 2026 Schedule
October 12, 2026 – Rock Nashville (Nashville, TN)
October 14, 2026 – Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center (New York, NY) — Featuring special guest Steve Reich (Tickets & Reservations: Available directly via the Merkin Hall Box Office)
October 16, 2026 – Zipper Concert Hall at The Colburn School (Los Angeles, CA)
(Tickets & Reservations: Available online via the official Eventbrite)
October 22, 2026 – Vancouver New Music Festival (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
November 11–14, 2026 – PASIC 2026 (Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Indianapolis, IN)

“Performing Steve Reich’s music requires a rare blend of extreme mathematical precision and deep emotional fluidity,” says Kuniko Kato. “To bring these masterpieces across North America with an incredible group of young Japanese artists—and to perform them in front of Steve himself in New York—is the true honor of a lifetime.
We welcome music lovers from all over the world to support our journey through MotionGallery (https://motion-gallery.net/projects/2026_REICH90_CF) and join us in celebrating a true icon.
The tour will culminate in November with a featured showcase at PASIC 2026 in Indianapolis, the world’s premier percussion convention, placing this project directly in front of the global percussion community.

About Kuniko Kato
Kuniko Kato is one of the world’s leading percussion virtuosos, renowned for her flawless technique, profound musicality, and groundbreaking interpretations of contemporary masterworks. As a preferred interpreter of Steve Reich’s percussion catalog, her albums Kuniko Plays Reich (Linn Records) received global critical acclaim. She is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of musical talent through her intensive artist incubation program.

Media Contact
Contact Name: Andy Ito, Office of Kuniko Kato, LLC. / NPO ARTSWORKS
Title: Tour Manager
Email: info@npo-artsworks.org
Phone: +1.615.692.1360
Website: kuniko-kato.net, npo-artsworks.org

Kuniko Kato
OFFICE OF KUNIKO KATO, LLC.
+81 80-5075-5038
email us here

Kuniko & Musicians perform Mallet Quartet (2009) by Steve Reich

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